Tire-protector.



I. KAHPEN.

TIRE PROTECTOR.

APPLICA'HON FILED FEB. 5, i914.

Patented Oct. 2%, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I I. KARPEN.

TIRE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 191 s.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- ISAAC KARI-EN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIBE-FROTEGTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

racemes that. at, rare.

Application filed. February 5, 1914:. Serial No. 816,787.

To all whom it may concern."

Be 'it known that 1, Isaac KARPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State'of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Tmprovexnent in Tire-Protectors; of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to devices adapted for the protection of pneumatic tires.

The invention contemplates the use of preferably elastic tread -blocks stretched across the tread-portion of the tire and removably secured in place, said tread-blocks to be used continuously until worn out, when they can be replaced by others. The treadblocks thus serve both as a tire-protecting means and anti-skid means, always in place on the tire and nevertheless free from all rattling and injurious efiect upon the tire. l'nfact, the improved device serves as a constant protection'to the pneumatic tire and preserves the integrity of the tire for a prolonged period, while the comparatively inexpensive tread-blocks can be renewed as frequently as required, thereby effecting great economy, as well as insuring the motorist against tire troubles and against dangerous skidding.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a broken elevational view of a wheel provided with a pneumatic tireand equipped with my improved tireprotecting means; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a view ofone of the elastic tread-blocks employed; Fig. 4, an enlarged broken section taken as indicated at line 4: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a slight modification; Fig. 6, a view of an elastic tread-block of modified form, before it is stretched across and thereby given an elongated form and curved to conform to the curvature of the tire; Fig. 7, a broken view showing a series of united tread-blocks, giving the effect of a continuous open-work elastic tire armor; and Fig. 8, a section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 3.

In the construction'shown in Figs.- 1 to 4,

engaging members 8,

inclusive, A represents a wheel having a fellyl, equipped with a. rim 2; B, a pneumatic tire applied to the wheel: C, anhular, hook-equipped plates secured to the wheel; and D, elastic tread-blocks stretched across the tire and engaging the hooks of the members C. The annular retainer plates C may be stamped from sheet-metal. They have inner fellyembracing portions 3 and outer tire'supporting portions 4: equipped with outwardly and downwardly turned hooks 5, which are preferably equi-distant from each other. The members C are preferably secured to the folly by clamping or otherwise, as by means of bolts 6. Each tread-block preferably comprises a pair of hook-engaging loops 7 and a plurality of elastic treadstretched across the tread-portion of the tire. make each tread-block suitable rubber compound, which may, if desired, have embedded therein fiber or canvas strips 9. as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8. The tread-blocks are-desirably made of substantial size and durable materials, for the two-fold purpose of holding the tread'-portion of the tire out of contact withthe pavement and serving with certainty the function of an anti-skid device, the further pur pose being to obviate the necessity of frequent renewals of the tread-blocks. Tt is highly desirable to use a material having the elastic properties, impermeability and wearresisting qualities of rubber, and any material having these qualities is to be regarded as an equivalent of rubber.

The tread-engaging portions 8 of the tread-block D are preferably made of a It is preferred to larger cross-section than the loop-portions 7,

thus placing the bulk of the rubber at the location where it is most needed for resisting purposes as well as for the purpose of elevating the tire from the pavement and forming suitably deep interstices or spaces 10, which aid in the anti-skidding function of the device.

The tread-blocksmay be molded, or may be formed in preferred to provide the loops 7 at their inner concaved portions'with metal clips 11,

thusarmoring the loops at the points where they engage the hooks 5.

Fig. 2 showsthe of rubber,- or of a any suitable manner. It is tread-portions of the tread-blocks thicker than the loop-portions, and the tread-portions in are preferably deepest and. of greatest cross-section directly over the largest circumference of the Wheel, as indicated at 12 in Fig. 2. The tread-blocks may be of elon-- gated form shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and may be bent to conform to the cross-section of the tire in stretching the tread-blocks upon the hooks 5. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower or inner surfaces at the treml-portions 8 of the tread-blocks may be made slightly concaved to conform to the tire as indicated at 13.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, the tread-block D is originally made in circular form, and may be of uniform crosssection. In applying a tread-block of this form, it is stretched to the elongated form and caused to engage the hooks 5;and, if desired, after the tread-blocks of this form have been used for a time, they may be shifted on the hooks so that the Worn portions will engage the hooks, While the portions Which formerly engaged the hooks Will be disposed over the tread-portion of the tire.

In Fig. 7, there are illustrated a series of tread-blocks D each comprising loops 7 and tread-engaging portions 8 -uniting the loops; and the tread-blocks D are shown united at the points 14, thus giving the efiect of a continuous united series of tread-blocks having the loops 7 spaced to correspond with the spacing of the hooks 5. Here, again, it is preferred to make the tread-engaging portions of the tread-blocks of greater cross-section than the loop-portions. In Fig. 5, D represents a tread-block similar to the tread-block D shown in Fig. 3, 4

but having the tread-portions 8 of greater Width than the loop-portions 7.

It is desirable, though not essential, When the tread-blocks are separately formed, to so proportion and form the treadportions and stretch the tread-blocks across the tire so tightly that the tread-portions will retain their proper seating' on the tread-portion of the tire in the manner illustrated. Nevertheless, a certain amount of yielding is desirable to prevent injury, when the treadblocks strike violently against projections in the road. It is desirable to shape the portions 4 of the annular plates C, so that they will present roundedsurfaces 4c to the tire above the tire-holding flanges of the rim 2, so that the tire Will. be supported and enforced, and still will not be injured by the retainer plates.

. From the description given, it will be understood that the elastic tread-blocks employed snugly embrace the tire, and may be used continuously until Worn out, when. they can lie-readily. replaced. The wheel, thus protected, Will run smoothly and quietly over a pavem'ent, the pneumatic tire Wlll be protected from \icm'iiuii and \cr lurgcl r 66 protected from dangifr-r of puncture. and the integrity of the tire will be picsclwd. thus, z1.ioi li11 11' danger o1 blow-out and ]H' 'l\' ing the expensive tire for a prolonged pci'iod. The lircmbbloclrs can be prudlurcd cheaply, and the lire can be thus preserved in practically perfect condition. even though subicctcd to prolong d usun'c cl flu: hardest character. Moreover. the antielridding l llllfl tion of the tread-block's is always present. thus tending to the ilurthcr preservation of the tire, as well as obviating danger to the machine and its occupants.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clcarncss of understalulino; only, and no unncc ary limitation should be understood therefrom. and the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in View of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secnre by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a. .vhecl equipped With-a pneumatic tire, of annular plates equipped with spaced hooks, and elastic tread-blocks stretched across the tread-poo tion of the tire and engaging said hooks, each. tread-block comprising" hook-engaging loops and a plurality of rubber tread-angst ing members separated from each other by spaces and extending across the tread of the tire.

The combination with a wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, of rubber tread-- blocks stretched. across the tread-portion of the tire, each treadbloclc comprising hookengaging loops and a plurality of rubber tread-engaging members extending across the tire, and annular plates secured to the Wheel and having hooks engaging said loops at thesides of the tire.

3. The combination with a Wheel equipped with pneumatic tire, of annular plates equipped with spaced hooks, and elastic tread-blocks stretched across the tread-portion of the tire, each tread-block comprising hook-engaging loops connected. by rubber tread-portions of relatively large cross-section Which are separated from. each other by spaces.

4. The combination with a Wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, of tread-blocks stretched across the treadportion of the tire, each tread-block being of elongated form and comprising loops connected by a plurality of rubber tread-engaging strips, and annular plates secured to the Wheel and having spaced hooks engaging said loops at the sides of the tire.

5. The combination with a Wheel equipped with a pncumatic tire, of tread-blocks stretched across the tire, each tread-bloclr comprising a pair of armored loops and.

rubber tread engaging strips connecting said loops, and annular plates secured to the Wheel and equipped with hooks engaging said loops at the sides of the tire.

(3. The combination of a Wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, of a series of elastic tread-blocks stretched across the tile and comprising a series of attaching loops and 1-\v1bber tread-pieces connecting said loops, 

